Boston based City Year unveiled an expansion of its long-time partnership with Comcast, announcing that Comcast has pledged cross-channel advertising and financial support for City Year totaling $27 million over the next three years. Comcast has had two previous agreements with City Year over the past five years with a total value of $30 million. This expanded agreement will encourage young people to commit to volunteer service by increasing awareness of City Year’s mission and investing in leadership training for City Year corps members and staff.
“Comcast is a tremendous corporate citizen. Its investment in City Year is making it possible for young people to provide vitally needed services to children in schools and communities nationwide. Further, Comcast’s multi-million dollar national public service campaign will call on America’s young people to ‘give a year’ and ‘change the world’ as City Year corps members,”
said Michael Brown, City Year CEO and Co-Founder. Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation David L. Cohen, who also serves as a member of City Year’s National Board comments:
“By enabling our youth to be more responsible citizens today, and more effective leaders for the future, City Year is making a positive difference in communities across the country – and we are proud to partner with them to promote volunteerism, diversity and youth leadership development.”
Besides the direct financial commitment of $3M, the partnership includes leadership development. media sponsorship, and other joint activities, such as City Year corps members serving alongside Comcast employees and their family members at Comcast Cares Day, the company’s national day of service.
About City Year
City Year is a nonprofit organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors, and role models, these dedicated idealists make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 17 U.S. locations and Johannesburg, South Africa. Founded in 1988, City Year is dedicated to helping children succeed, building stronger communities, breaking down social barriers and developing young leaders. City Year is a proud member of AmeriCorps.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million high-speed Internet customers and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Harry R. Halloran Jr., a Philadelphia energy industry entrepreneur has given $10 million to the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas to support its programs in corporate ethics and responsibility.
Besides his roles at American Refining Group Inc. and Energy Unlimited Inc., Halloran also is the founder of Halloran Philanthropies, an organization that supports efforts to enhance global business ethics, microfinance and community service.
“Over the past decade I have come to know and admire St. Thomas’ scholars and programs devoted to corporate ethics,” Halloran said. “The university and its Opus College of Business are leaders in this critically important field, and I am grateful to be able to support their efforts.”
Halloran’s donation to St. Thomas’ Opening Doors capital campaign will support work in corporate ethics and responsibility undertaken by two organizations in the Opus College of Business: the SAIP (Self-Assessment and Improvement Process) Institute and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures.
About Halloran Philanthropies
The purpose of the Halloran Philanthropies is to create a healthy world community that promotes economic development and human dignity guided by ethical principles. GLOBAL ETHICS Supporting programs that impact the ethical behavior of business and promote corporate social responsibility and interreligious programs MICROFINANCE Ensuring the empowerment of the poor to achieve sustainable and dignified livelihoods COMMUNITY SERVICE Promoting neighborhood revitalization and youth education through entrepreneurial development.
Today, I stumbled upon the letter, John Chambers, Chairman and CEO of San Jose, CA based networking infrastructure giant Cisco Systems was writing about Cisco’s CSR and Corporate Citizenship report (download report).
Since Gordon and I enjoyed a very interesting meeting with Cisco just a few days back, I want to share some of our learnings.
First of all, we were impressed with the size and scale one of Cisco’s initiatives - in particular the Cisco Networking Academy.
The Cisco Networking Academy is in its tenth year now and what started in one class room of one local school in one country abroad, today involves about 350 Cisco staff, operates in more than 160 countries and has touched more than 2 million students, with an ever-growing percentage of them women in many regions. The academy’s goal is to educate students and have them acquire technical skills that enable them to participate in an economy increasingly driven by technological initiatives, which in turn helps energize local economies and bring underserved communities across the digital divide.
Secondly, in our conversation it became very clear that companies - even with Cisco’s global reach and resources - wouldn’t be as successful without the right partners. As far as I know, one of the valuable cooperation in the case of Cisco’s Networking Academy was the one with USAID.
This reminded me strongly of one of our own goals at Worldsight, which is to become a catalyst and connect all stakeholders of mission driven businesses and initiatives. We may host an event in the future which educates all stakeholders about the “how to…” of mission driven programs and partnerships. If you have input for us we’d appreciate to hear from you.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerful connections-whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible-providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time.
The Berkeley, CA based Rockwood Leadership Institute is launching a new program for social entrepreneurs and socially responsible business leaders. Designed to provide a high-intensity learning community for senior executives of socially responsible businesses, it is also open to non-profit leaders with a social venture focus.
“Among Rockwood’s 3,000 alumni and friends are a growing group of entrepreneurs who want to experience our unique approach to leadership development and expand their networks,” says Rockwood’s CEO Akaya Windwood. “Our mission is to encourage social change through transformative leadership development. We are looking forward to providing regular seminars for triple-bottom-line venture individuals and teams”
The growth of enterprises that mix for-profit and non-profit practices in pursuit of social goals has led the organization to refocus its programming to include this growing sector.
